July blog update: Leadership Seminars a success!

It was wonderful to see so many of you and hear firsthand about your commitment to MARSP during our June Leadership Seminars in Kalamazoo, Gaylord, Auburn Hills and Escanaba. More than 250 chapter leaders and future leaders attended. An excellent turnout! Thanks to all who took the time to participate and hone their leadership skills. Our local chapters around the state and country will benefit from your enthusiasm and dedication to MARSP.

As I mentioned at the seminars, getting our membership up to 100,000 should be the goal and vision for the next couple of years. Our growth to 50,000 is in sight, but we shouldn’t stop there. Potential members, active and retired, are waiting to be asked to join in every school district and local chapter. It will take a concerted grassroots effort, but I am confident we have the leadership and the energy to reach that new level of growth and influence.

Health care is clearly the number one concern of our members, and the topic continues to dominate the public policy conversation in Lansing. At this writing, no action has yet been taken by the state Senate on Medicaid expansion, which has the potential to greatly improve health care access for many low-income retirees.

Although our members are fortunate to enjoy some of the best health care benefits in the state, we must continue to watch over them and let legislators know how much our members value them. We’ll be hearing more soon on changes to MPSERS insurance coverage that could affect our members. We are anticipating the new plan will be for two years and include an increase in deductibles above the current levels. More information should be available within the next 30 days, and we will report details in the next issue of VANGUARD and other MARSP communication channels.

I’m looking forward to seeing many of you again in August for our golf outings on the 15th and 22nd. We’ll gather for the fourth annual Bruce Moeggenborg outing on Aug. 15 in Shepherd at Maple Creek Golf Club and then again on Aug. 22 in the U.P. at Gladstone Golf Club in Brampton. Both outings have a 10 a.m. shotgun start and include breakfast, lunch “at the turn” and dinner, all for just $65 per player. If you haven’t yet signed up, visit the MARSP website for more information and consider supporting your association with a day on the golf course. Nongolfers can join us for dinner and the awards program. Anyone is welcome to participate, so feel free to encourage any of your acquaintances to join us. To register, call 888-960-4022 or visit www.marsp.org.

MARSP is planning a series of Legislative Ambassador seminars throughout the state: Aug. 21 in Marquette, Sept. 4 in Greater Detroit and Sept. 6 in Greater Grand Rapids. More details are available on the MARSP website.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Verification of Coverage deadline was July 15. Be sure to return your form in order to avoid cancellation of health and prescription coverage. Those who did not receive a form should call BCBS at 888-231-0382.